Payload Systems Engineer 1

About Lodestar

Lodestar is the software-first space prime for the hardware abundant era. We believe the next generation of space systems will be defined not by launch, fuel, and batteries, but by software, compute, and autonomous effects.

Space is becoming an increasingly contested warfighting domain, with growing threats to the satellites and critical infrastructure underpinning modern life. Maintaining Western strategic advantage will require a new generation of space capabilities built for the speed, complexity and scale of future conflict.

Lodestar is addressing this challenge by building superintelligent spacecraft capable of operating autonomously in orbit. Combining our capabilities in advanced adversarial tracking & characterisation, onboard edge compute and autonomous effect delivery, our technology enables spacecraft to execute complex rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), detect and classify objects, predict intent and respond to orbital threats - even in denied environments. By integrating sensing, reasoning and action into a single autonomous system, we aim to deliver decisive situational awareness and space superiority for defence and commercial operators.

Backed by elite deep-tech venture capital, international space agencies and government stakeholders, Lodestar is rapidly expanding its footprint across the U.S. Space Force, the Department of War, and major commercial satellite operators. We are a lean, high-autonomy team of engineers and operators building the space defense infrastructure of tomorrow.

Join us.

About the Job

As a Payload Engineer I at Lodestar, you'll join the payload team as a primary delivery engineer, taking the payload from laboratory breadboard to qualified engineering model.

You'll help design, build, integrate and test the payload across optics, mechanical, avionics and software. Working alongside senior systems, GNC, electronics and optics engineers, you'll take the engineering model through design reviews, integration and qualification.

This is an early-career role with a deliberately broad scope. We're looking for hands-on building experience and fast learning rather than a long track record, and you'll own the engineering model from day one with the support to grow into it.

We proudly have an "extreme ownership" oriented engineering culture.

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What You’ll Do

• Own the payload engineering model day-to-day, end-to-end: requirements, design, build, integration, test, and write-up
• Develop payload, autonomy, effector, power, thermal, and pointing requirements, and the ICDs between payload, avionics, and spacecraft bus
• Prepare SRR, PDR and CDR packages, and keep the verification matrix and risk register current between reviews
• Carry out performance verification and feed corrective design iterations back into the build
• Run hardware-in-the-loop testing at internal & external testing facilities, closing the loop from perception through to pointing against simulated orbital targets
• Support environmental qualification (TVAC, launch vibration, EMC/EMI), including pre-and post-test functional testing and the anomaly and corrective-action trail
• Deliver an end-to-end ground demonstration on a payload-in-the-loop testbed
• Produce technical documentation: test reports, qualification records, and performance assessments against requirements

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Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Physics, Optics or Photonics, Robotics, Computer Science, or demonstrated equivalent knowledge
• 0-2 years of professional experience. Early-career candidates, including recent graduates, are encouraged to apply
• Hands-on evidence of building something real and making it work, such as a university cubesat or rocketry team, research lab, Formula Student, a hardware internship, or a project taken from nothing to working. We weight this far far above grades
• Working proficiency in Python

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Preferred Skills & Experience

• Space exposure in any form: CubeSat program, hosted payload, space or defense internship, or a space-focused Master's project
• Optics and photonics bench work
• Computer vision
• Closed-loop pointing and control
• End-to-end Environmental test and AIT experience 
• Systems engineering practice
• Embedded or real-time software

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ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITARhere.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Pay Range for this role:
  • (P1) Entry: $99,000 - $133,000 / year

• Meaningful equity incentives as part of our employee option pool
• Flexible PTO with generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Comprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match

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Additional Information

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in theform of stock options, and access tomedical, vision and dental coverage, as well asaccess to a 401(k) retirement plan.

Lodestar is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Lodestar is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.